The Japan Recording-Media Industries Association (JRIA) announced today its forecast for global demand and production of Blu-ray media based on estimates for 2008.

According to the report, global demand for Blue laser discs (Blu-ray and HD DVD) in 2008 will be increased by 400% (20 million units), compared to last year. Based on these figures, JRIA estimates that the demand will be further increased in 2009 in a total amount of 64 million units, which is translated to an annual increase of 320%. The demand for the Blue laser discs will peak in 2011, where the forecast indicates a worldwide total demand of 279 million units.

JRIA also said that the Beijing Olympic games last August lead to a significant boom in the sales of Blu-ray discs in Japan, since the Japanese consumers have replaced their DVD recorders with new Blu-ray recorders. JRIA estimates that the situation will change by 2011, with the overseas demand for BD discs to exceed the domestic, as Blu-ray recorders will be widely available worldwide. Panasonic has already announced its plans to release its Blu-ray recording devices in the U.S. and Europe this year.

JRIA also believes that there will be an increase in the demand for Blu-ray discs for data recording on the PC in the following years. The Association estimates that the Blu-ray recordable discs will slowly start to replace the DVD recordable media for PC use after 2009.